KABUL (Pajhwok): Direct flights between Amritsar, a city in northwestern India and Afghanistan would resume, announced Afghan Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi.

Muttaqi made the announcement on Monday during a high-level interaction with industry leaders, organised by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi, Times of India reported.

The move has sparked hope for a revival of economic and cultural ties between the two nations, long constrained by geopolitical shifts.

The news was met with enthusiasm in Amritsar, once a primary trade centre for Afghan commerce.
Sachin Kumar, proprietor of Hotel Airlines, recalled the city's vibrant past, saying how Afghan visitors frequently stayed for weeks, driving trade and healthcare tourism.“Afghan businessmen used to stay here for over a month. The return of these flights will not just boost trading activities but also revive the tourism industry that significantly slowed down,” he said.

Kumar highlighted the fate of the lucrative dry fruit trade, which shifted from Amritsar to Delhi after direct flights from Kabul ceased.

Vikramjit Singh wrote on his X handle that he had a deeply engaging and forward-looking interaction with Amir Khan Muttaqi.

The two sides discussed exploring avenues to strengthen India–Afghanistan trade and deepen people-to-people connections to have Peace and Prosperity in the region.

“I warmly welcomed the proposal to resume direct flights between #Amritsar and #Kabul & Kandahar and underscored the importance of revitalizing trade routes, enhancing collaboration in healthcare , education and tourism,” he wrote.

He said that he firmly believed that stable and constructive economic relations between Afghanistan and India hold the promise of shared prosperity and renewed hope for the people on both sides.

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